A yacht worth 640 million euros was in a tank for months and now wanted to sail, but the Italian authorities prevented it. Corruption investigators are convinced it belongs to the Russian president, according to the Welt.
Italian authorities have seized the Scheherazade mega-yacht, which is moored at a Tuscan shipyard. Investigations have revealed “significant economic and business links between the official owner of Sehrazat” and key Russian government officials, the Italian Economy Ministry said on Friday.
Apparently, the decision of the Minister of Finance Daniele Franco for the seizure preceded the end of the “Scheherazade” and a possible escape from the Italian territory. The New York Times reported this week that the boat was launched for the first time on Tuesday after months in a tank. Crew members were spotted rushing to load the boat, and the boat had also been refueled last week.
The ministry did not disclose the name of the owner. According to Italian media, the owner is Eduard Khudainatov, former head of the Russian state Rosneft. The oil official is also reported as the owner of the “Amadea” super yacht, which was confiscated in the Fiji Islands on Tuesday.
Members of the anti-corruption foundation’s jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny had donated the yacht to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The luxury yacht company The Italian Sea Group, which last worked on the boat, said weeks ago that Putin was not the owner, according to the documents.
The ship, built in 2020 by the German company Lürssen, has two helipads, a swimming pool and a cinema and is worth about 640 million euros, according to the specialized website SuperYachtFan.
Following the Moscow invasion of Ukraine on February 24, many yachts belonging to Russian oligarchs have already been seized in Europe and around the world.
Source: Capital
I am Derek Black, an author of World Stock Market. I have a degree in creative writing and journalism from the University of Central Florida. I have a passion for writing and informing the public. I strive to be accurate and fair in my reporting, and to provide a voice for those who may not otherwise be heard.
